There are a total of five Phi-Brain children
with the potential to serve as my vessel.
Gammon Sakanoue,
Freecell,
and Raetsel is drawing ever closer to an acceptable level.
There is also Kaito Daimon.
His actions have gone so far as to sway the future I foresaw.
He is a truly fascinating individual.
You are my problem child, Rook Banjo Crossfield.
You are the most skilled after Kaito,
and yet you completely reject the idea of becoming a Phi-Brain.
No one can escape me, regardless of who he might be.
Kaito, You’ve Lost
Bishop, have any reports come in from the Orpheus Order?
No, nothing yet.
But knowing them, I’m confident they will find something.
They have worshipped Orpheus since ancient times,
so the chances that they will provide us with information are extremely good.
It was most astute of you to think of them, Master Rook.
Please continue the investigation.
Most certainly.
I was able to see the future.
This is the one and only way to defeat Orpheus... and save Jin.
This is what I must do.
Jin?!
No, Orpheus!
Rook Banjo Crossfield, aren’t you using the Orpheus Order
to search for a way to defeat me?
I’ve already told you.
I can easily see such blatant maneuvers.
Bastard!
It’s no use.
You cannot escape the future I have already witnessed.
I shall enlighten you.
Here is what you are truly meant to do...
Yummy cake! The Pre-Pre rocks!
It’s the Pretty Melancholy!
Remember this isn’t your house!
I want to eat cake. I want to eat cake.
I didn’t realize Director Rook had asked that of the Orpheus Order...
It worked out perfectly.
Please give some cake to me as well.
I had been searching for a way to assist
Freecell in whatever way I could.
Me, too! Me, too!
Sheesh! Even I’m stuck helping!
It’s made this past week an absolute nightmare!
Give cake to me as well.
So what did you guys learn about Orpheus?
Would you be so kind as to ask them in person?
“Them” who?
I can’t spend forever on this!
Damn it!
Kaito?
I don’t have time for this crap!
Th-that’s not true! Right, Freecell?
Freecell Yeah. Kaito, you and I have
definitely improved since we started the Trial of--
That’s not what I’m talking about!
I want to face Orpheus.
I’ve gotta defeat him as soon as I possibly can and save Jin!
But when the heck will I get to duel him in a puzzle?
Rook?
Yo! I brought them.
Doubt! Mizerka!
Rook...
Isn’t this a beautiful city?
It looks just like a puzzle made by the gods.
Dude, what brings you to Amgine?
When I thought of you, I couldn’t help but come.
So how is it coming along with Jin?
I’m not getting anywhere.
I can’t even get near Orpheus.
And here I’ve gotta hurry and rescue Jin!
Then you’ll have to keep at it.
Rook!
What is this?!
A puzzle that I made.
Rook?!
I built it so you and I could battle.
What?!
We’ll ride our individual coasters as we head toward the goal.
Whichever side gets through the maze and reaches the goal first wins.
However, this maze has three sets of gates planted on both tracks.
If one of us passes through a gate, its corresponding gate will close.
Whoever is trailing behind will crash into the wall.
Game over!
Say what?!
There are some other rules,
but you’re capable of figuring them out as out as we go, aren’t you?
Hey, Rook!
Kaito, you can’t bow out.
Puzzle time... Let’s begin!
Cut the crap! What the hell are you thinking?!
There is only one way to save Jin. I’ll let you know what it is.
I must become Orpheus’ vessel and replace Jin,
allowing his mind to enter mine.
You shouldn’t be so surprised.
I imagine my mind will cease to exist when that happens.
But that is a trivial matter.
After all, in doing that,
I’ll be able to make Orpheus’ dream become reality!
His dream? What are you talking--
Rook, you didn’t!
Yes, I did!
Orpheus bequeathed another Armlet unto me!
Orpheus did?!
I’ve made my mind.
I will sacrifice myself for Orpheus’ ideal.
I will solve the Puzzle of God and become a Phi-Brain!
Master Rook!
Just as I feared, Master Rook has donned the Armlet!
Exactly!
Enigma, you bastard!
At the moment, Rook is consumed with his loyalty to Orpheus
and the desire to become a Phi-Brain.
A larger audience is always desirable.
Why don’t we watch the spectacle together?
Let’s see how this battle ends.
Please... save Master Rook!
Kaito, I know exactly what you have in mind.
I won’t let you lay so much as a finger on Orpheus.
I will make sure that his ideal is made a reality!
Has the Armlet consumed him...?
Rook, come to your senses!
You’re mistaken. I have come to my senses.
I owe it to the power of this Armlet that Orpheus gave me!
What should I do? At this rate...
At any rate, the two of us have to get outta this puzzle alive!
I swear I’ll break that Armlet again and bring back the old you!
Are you up to the task, Kaito?
Is that it? Is that my first gate?
If I pass through it first, Rook will die.
If Rook’s first, I’ll die.
So the only way both of us will make it out alive
is if I make sure we’re synchronized all three times!
I’m up to the challenge! Bring it on!
The coaster’s speed is set on auto, so I can’t control it.
I can change routes at the track switches when I need to.
I can’t control the red track switches.
It’s set to automatically switch once a coaster passes through.
All right! This is where I’ve gotta tweak my timing!
He passed through.
Go!
Sweet!
Simultaneous entry? You’re soft, Kaito!
What?
Sure enough, you aren’t worthy to serve as Orpheus’ vessel
if you lack what it takes to defeat your rivals!
There is only one who can realize his ideal...
and that is me!
Orpheus!
Tell me, Rook! What the hell is Orpheus’ ideal?!
Are you curious?
It’s hard to believe, but apparently it’s all true.
I can’t believe the Orpheus we worshipped still exists.
And to think he’s trying to execute such a terrifying plan!
What’s that?
Everything was recorded in this ancient manuscript.
It claims that Orpheus’ dream is to confront the Ultimate Giver and surpass Him.
The Ultimate Giver?
God.
This is a massive puzzle that has been going on
between Orpheus and the gods for thousands of years.
Orpheus has two Phi-Brain children fight.
Then he claims the winner as his new vessel for his mind.
He has gained that ability through playing these puzzles with the gods.
By casting aside his body,
he has conquered the yoke called “death,” which the gods placed on us.
However, that was merely a checkpoint.
When he is free of the greatest yoke, known as “time,”
Orpheus will surpass the gods.
This manuscript made it blatantly clear.
The moment he manages to solve all of the gods’ puzzles,
Orpheus will be the only person left standing on Earth.
Mankind will surpass the gods!
Don’t you think that is a wonderful dream?
So what about his puzzles with the gods?!
If solving them means Orpheus is the only one who will survive...
that isn’t a dream or an ideal!
Really! Jin is such an idiot.
If he had humbly submitted to Orpheus and vanished,
he would have been able to achieve his goal by now!
Rook, you bastard!
Jin sacrificed his memories to seal Orpheus within his own body!
You dare call that stupid?!
You’re equally stupid, Kaito.
Kaito, if you didn’t recover Jin’s memories,
Orpheus would still be sound asleep inside of him.
Thank you for waking Orpheus back up, Kaito.
You’re right. I’m responsible for reviving him.
That’s why...
I’m gonna bring Orpheus down!
If he’s a monster who has conquered death,
I’ll seal him inside of myself!
I won’t let him outta my body!
You’d go to such lengths to stand in our way...
To hamper the ideal Orpheus and I share!
I won’t let this end the way he wants!
Rook, I swear that I will save you!
Then give it your best shot.
Follow me!
It looks like they both made it through the first gates,
but the second gates won’t be so easy.
The second gates are isolated from each other.
Each gate has its own route.
Kaito and Rook only have one possible route.
This is a rather difficult puzzle.
He has solved an impossible puzzle and rescued Master Rook once before!
I’m sure he can do it again!
I’m nowhere near close to the second gate’s entrance!
As long as you fight for a simultaneous entry,
I will always have the upper hand!
I simply have to worry about passing through the gate before you.
It’s simple!
That’s it! I see my route to the second gate!
Did he get the jump on me?!
That’s a waste of time.
Mark my word!
There is no way you will defeat me.
What makes you so sure?
Because... I know what the future holds.
You’re the one who will lose this puzzle battle.
I know because that’s what Orpheus saw in the future.
What?!
His premonitions are absolute.
No one can escape the fate that he has foreseen!
Don’t give me that!
I won’t let Orpheus decide my future!
I’ll change my fate as many times as it takes!
Rook, every time it comes down to it...
I WILL save you!
What?! Impossible!
At this rate, he’ll be able to save Master Rook!
No one can change the future seen by Orpheus!
Sweet! Now zoom on through!
That’s impossible!
Boo-yah!
Whatcha think? There's no puzzle I can't solve!
If this keeps up, Kaito will win...
He can’t...! That can’t be right!
After all, Orpheus clearly said that I would...
I see... A future where Kaito loses...
Is that what he meant? Orpheus, that was mean...
Now if I can just match our timing so Rook
and I escape from this puzzle at the same time...!
Rook?
Hey!
Not good! At this rate...!
I won’t let you!
I’m not gonna let you pull that stunt on me!
Perfect!
So it’s come to that...
Master Rook!
Now we’ll both make it out!
Hey, Rook?
Kaito, you’ve lost this puzzle.
Dude, what’re you talkin’ about?!
The tracks merge into one on the way to the final gate.
They what...?
And there is only one gate.
Then that means... only one of us can pass through!
Yeah. And that person will be...
you, Kaito.
Sure enough, you’re incredible, Kaito!
At last, I will become “eternal” within you!
ROOK!
It has ended just as I foresaw.
Kaito Daimon, I thought you were a fascinating
individual capable of swaying the future,
but apparently I overestimated you.
Despite rejecting the path to becoming a Phi-Brain,
Rook more than adequately fulfilled his role as a pawn.
As for Kaito Daimon!
Your feelings for Rook will serve as fuel,
allowing you to grow ever closer to becoming a Phi-Brain.
I believed in you!
I TRUSTED you! And yet you let him...
Master Rook...
Rook entrusted me with the future.
You must...
You must defeat Orpheus... for Master Rook!
Count on it.
I swear I’ll take Orpheus down!
It’s time! At long last, the time has come to select
who is capable of serving as my vessel from amongst these four.
Orpheus, you don’t get it.
It’s too much for Kaito and his friends!
Hey, Kaito?
We never would have grown to love puzzles so much if not for you.
Well, at least your puzzle-fanaticism kept me from gettin’ bored!
You’re not very honest with yourself.
Shut it!
Next time, “So, You Shouldn’t Hesitate.”
So, You Shouldn’t Hesitate
It’s time. I’m going on ahead.
Bye, Kaito!
Fin Art: Akeru Otsuki